On June 9th, Seafarers UK was privileged to be able to join with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Marines Children’s Fund in hosting friends and supporters from the maritime world at the Beat Retreat on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a Reception in the elegant and prestigious Durbar Court, within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
This magnificent pageant of military music, precision and drill dates back to the sixteenth century, when drummers signalled the changing watches or “beat the men to quarters”. It is performed every three years in celebration of the birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Captain General Royal Marines. All 220 musicians from the 5 Royal Marine Bands were on Parade, some only 2 or 3 weeks after returning from operational duties in support of 3 Commando Brigade in Afghanistan. In Helmand Province, they primarily fulfilled their military role in medical and logistic support of frontline units, but also found time when off-duty to raise the spirits of all their Service colleagues by performing music from their tremendous repertoire.
Seafarers UK is one of the 3 beneficiary charities of the 2009 Beat Retreat. We were honoured to be joined at our Reception by the Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Garry Robison, Vice President of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund, and active supporter of Seafarers UK. In recent months, we have campaigned to raise the profile of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in public awareness, primarily with regard to their significant and often overlooked contribution to current operations overseas, but also the many commitments that are undertaken world-wide by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, largely unnoticed, day after day, to protect the nation’s security, freedom and economic well-being. We are delighted to have had this opportunity to show our appreciation of them and to reinforce our commitment to the men and women whose service to this country, not just in current operations, but world-wide and unceasing, is all too often unsung.
